The GOP attempt to overturn $1.4 billion in new taxes passed during the special session may be thwarted. Carroll County Judge Thomas Stansfield last week said he “can simply not agree that when a technicality in procedures is violated, the entire slate of lawfully enacted legislation should be invalidated.”
Fair enough. But he excoriated the Democratic leadership for its “reprehensible” and “egregious” behavior in failing to follow constitutionally required procedures. We would add to his list Attorney General Doug Gansler for repeatedly standing up for the Democratic leadership despite evidence showing it violated the state constitution.
The lawsuit alleged the House did not consent to the Senate adjourning for more than three days during the special session as required by the state constitution. It also accused Democratic leaders of forging documents to make it look as if they did abide by the rules. As a result of the impropriety, all legislation passed during the special session is void, Republicans said.
Democratic leaders should take Stansfield?s words to heart. Just because they dictate General Assembly proceedings does not give them power to rewrite the rules ? and to lie and obfuscate in the process. And no party should be allowed to fast-track any law, especially taxes, for convenience.
